CAMELLIA'S POV
Mother looked down at my hand gripping her arm, then lifted her gaze to my face, a faint frown creasing her brow.
I expected her to pull away—to scold me for reacting like this in front of the Alpha and his son, to tell me to compose myself. Instead, she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
Then she turned to Alpha Beron.
"My daughter has been through a great deal," she said, her voice calm but unwavering. "She's frightened of being around people right now."
There was no apology in her tone. Only quiet resolve. She sounded less like a woman making excuses for her daughter and more like a mother issuing a warning. As though daring anyone to try to hurt me again.
Alpha Beron's expression softened. "That's perfectly understandable."
He looked at me with what seemed to be g
